When his bomber was torn apart over the South China Sea, Major Horace Carswell refused to abandon a wounded crewmate—he stayed at the controls and went down with his ship.
When a dying comrade cried out for water amid the thunder of machine guns, Sergeant William Sawelson didn’t hesitate — he crawled into the fire to bring him peace.
Pinned down in a deadly ambush in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, Specialist Salvatore Giunta refused to let his brothers die alone — and charged straight into enemy fire to bring one back.
When a massive Japanese fleet bore down on Taffy 3 off Samar, Commander Ernest Evans turned his tiny destroyer, USS Johnston, straight into the storm — and made naval history.
When a German tank burst through American lines near Bruyères, France, Staff Sergeant Clyde Choate didn’t retreat—he ran toward it, bazooka in hand, to stop it alone.
When the Japanese came in waves through the jungle of Guadalcanal, Sergeant John Basilone stood his ground behind twin machine guns—firing, fixing, and fighting until the barrels melted red.
In the black waters off the Philippines, Commander Richard O’Kane steered the USS Tang into the jaws of two convoys—fighting to the last torpedo, and to the last breath.
